Over the weekend from the Hart Media Group, a local financial advisor covered an uptick in scams related to fraudulent checks. 

Connie Miller with the DeWitt Savings Bank reminds that check washing and the printing of fraudulent checks have been increasing recently. She notes that they have even seen it in Clinton and DeWitt County, and it could be stemming from stolen mail. 

As is the case with any conversation about scams, A.I. is a tool that is making scammers' jobs easier. Miller indicates that checks handed over to someone could be put into artificial intelligence with the intention of creating blank fraudulent checks. 

When it comes to check fraud, Miller notes that unfortunately the victim is often the retailer as it is very easy for an employee to accept a fraudulent check that could be worth nothing. She says that the sooner your report the fraud, the less you could be liable for. 

It may seem insignificant, but when writing checks Miller recommends using a gel pen instead of a ballpoint pen, as ballpoint ink is easier for someone with ill intentions to erase.